Author(s)

William T. Molin^1*, Richard R. Kronfol², Jeffery D. Ray³, Brian E. Scheffler⁴, Charles T. Bryson¹

¹Crop Production Systems Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, USA.
²Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
³Crop Genetics Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, USA.
⁴Genetics and Bioinformatics Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, USA.

The diversity of globally distributed populations of purple nutsedge was assessed using molecular marker data and morphological traits. Cluster analysis of binary random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) data and morphological traits indicated that the global population of purple nutsedge consisted of two clades. Cluster analysis of the RAPD data supported separation of the purple nutsedge accessions evaluated into two distinct clades of 11 and 33 accessions. Except for accessions identified as California* and Arizona, all USA accessions were clustered with accessions from Taiwan, Western Samoa, New Zealand, Malaysia, Japan, El Salvador, Columbia, Australia, Thailand and West Indies. A second cluster included accessions from Sudan, Greece, Iran, California*, Arizona, Brazil, Argentina, Mauritius, Philippines, Indonesia and Tanzania. The accessions from Sudan, Greece, Iran, Mauritius, and Tanzania were distributed along a similar longitudinal axis. Cluster analysis based on morphological traits though not identical to that based on RAPD data also supported separation into two clades and perhaps a third. The lack of genetic diversity among accessions supported the hypothesis that spread and propagation into new environments were largely by tubers which preserved genetic identity. The lack of diversity particularly among New World and USA accessions may also reflect a relatively recent introduction of the species into the Americas and a low level of outcrossing.

Purple Nutsedge, RAPDs, Genetic Diversity

Molin, W. , Kronfol, R. , Ray, J. , Scheffler, B. and Bryson, C. (2019) Genetic Diversity among Geographically Separated Cyperus rotundus Accessions Based on RAPD Markers and Morphological Characteristics. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 10, 2034-2046. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2019.1011143.